Three Cortesian Devotions By Christopher Forrest McDowell, PhD A ...

Cortesian courtesy, therefore, honors and upholds a native culture’s bondedrelationship to its land, geographical region, and sacred places as the source of and tetherto its spiritual and historical integrity. Out of an act of compassionate courtesy, onewould not consider breaking the bond between a culture’s relationship to its heritage andsense of place. Similarly, a Cortesian steward reveres an animal or plant species for itsrelationship to its immediate environment and ecosystem. To honor this bond means toreconsider the amount or intensity of our desire to disrupt this relationship for purelyhuman gain. Human relationships can also be included in these examples. Citizen andcultural diplomacy can only work where reciprocal respect is honored. Men and womenmust also respect and honor gender differences, finding unique and co-creative ways tosteward each other. Couples and families must strive to create intimacy out of respect,honor, and reciprocal trust.Admittedly, to put such high ethics of reciprocity into daily practice, and to do soconsistently, is tough and challenging. We have to fight our ego, insensitivity, even ourpride and ignorance. At every turn in our relationship with each other, our family, ourhome and land, Tricia and I have been hammered with the realization that every thoughtand intention comes with a price. But by surrendering many years ago to the need topersonally steward our individual souls through meditation, prayer, and service to others,we came to realize that the value of simply trying to live with reverent intent faroutweighs any preconceived outcome.Unconditional ServiceModern society induces us to do things for material gain — for money, power, fame orcomfort. Because of this, as Indian philosopher and scholar Satish Kumar suggests, “wehave been taking and taking from each other, from the environment and from our ownsouls, without any thought of giving back or of replenishment.”Relationships — between humans, between humans and nature and animals — grow,deepen, and are replenished out of an investment and reinvestment of energy. Our familyknows, for example, that every spring we must reinvest our commitment to the garden.You see, we have this seasonal relationship going with it which obligates us to dutifullyaid in its sustainability. Otherwise, because of our natural gardening approach, thegarden would revert very quickly to a place of excessive wildness. Similarly, we reinvestin our family by taking regenerating outings, if only to go to a movie or play badmitton inthe front meadow. In the garden, I occasionally need to restore a trellis or Tricia mayneed to rework a raised bed. Similarly, when we feel too much tension arising betweenus, Tricia and I work to restore our equanimity through truthful and compassionateconversation. We take time everyday, and throughout each day, to replenish our spiritthrough meditation, laughter, and sharing our service to each other. We replenish ourbody through regular exercise and by healthy diets. We sustain our friendships in thecommunity by staying in touch.